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To the Women With Endometriosis: We Are Warriors

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Endometriosis doesn’t care about your age or your ethnic background. If you have a menstrual cycle, you are at risk of developing this chronic invisible illness. One in 10 women have it and it definitely isn’t just period cramps.

Women who have endometriosis are warriors. We are fighters, we are survivors. We are daughters, mothers, wives, athletes, business owners, doctors, actresses, stay-at-home moms. We are loving, compassionate and giving. We are human beings. We live in different parts of the world and we are all unique and different. The one thing we all have in common is the fact that we are all fighting this chronic invisible illness that’s taken up a home in our bodies.

 

Despite the pain we are in and the brain fog we are experiencing from the lack of sleep we get, we continue to do our daily tasks. We get through the daily demands our lives ask of us – whatever they may be. We are brave because we continue to be productive even on the days when the pain is so debilitating. We stay strong even when people tell us we are faking it or we are overreacting. We may look OK on the outside but our organs are bound together on this inside causing excruciating pain. We deal with stabbing pains throughout our whole body and heavy menstrual cycles, we deal with so much agony and still we rise up to every challenge we are given.

We have no cure. All we have are a few treatment options and surgeries that may or may not work. Many of us get treated horribly when we go to hospitals and leave feeling the same as when we came in. We may have a million reasons to give up but we choose to stay. We choose to fight, we choose not to let endometriosis define us. We are human beings and we are warriors.

So to anyone who may doubt what we go through, think again. Try to live a day in our shoes. What we go through on a daily basis takes bravery and a whole lot of strength. To anyone dealing with endometriosis and struggling, know you are not alone! Know you are strong and you are beautiful. And these thoughts you are having will eventually pass. Know the pain you are feeling will eventually calm. Know that endometriosis doesn’t define you and you have so much to offer the world. We have to stay strong.

This post originally appeared on I’ll Rise Up.

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Thinkstock photo via bignoze.

Originally published: August 27, 2017
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